1994 News Releases

PA ENVIRONMENTAL LEADERSHIP PROGRAM

Release Date: 11/4/94Contact Information:

PA ENVIRONMENTAL LEADERSHIP PROGRAM

FOR RELEASE: FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 1994

EPA RECEIVES 40 PROJECT PROPOSALS FOR ITS
ENVIRONMENTAL LEADERSHIP PROGRAM
The Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Compliance has received proposals from 40 facili-ties for consideration as pilot projects for the Environmental Leadership Program (ELP). The ELP will be the Agency's program to recognize and reward facilities that develop innovative environ-mental management systems and achieve outstanding compliance and pollution prevention results. The ELP pilot project phase will help EPA design the full-scale leadership program and will serve as a vehicle to experiment with possible auditing policy changes. The proposals represent a wide range of industries, including pharmaceuticals, consumer products, electric utilities, pulp and paper, printing and federal agencies. The Office of Compliance, in cooperation with its EPA region and state partners, plans to recommend pilot project finalists in December. A June 21, 1994, Federal Register notice requested proposals for ELP projects and outlined the criteria that facilities had to address to be considered for participation. Those criteria are the facility's compliance history, environmental management and auditing programs, pollution prevention, role in setting an example for others, performance measures, and employee and community involvement. EPA also asked facilities to propose mechanisms and incentives for the disclosure of audit results, in order to gain insight into the effect of Agency policies on auditing activities. EPA is planning several other activities to help forward the development of a full-scale leadership program. These activities include continued outreach, a workshop on environmental leadership early in 1995, and analysis of leadership projects implemented independently of EPA. For more information about the Environ-mental Leadership Program, contact Ira Feldman at 202-564-5017. Following is a list of facilities that submitted proposals.